Recocking after a mag is not realistic - and I'm not going to be watching the chamber after every few shots.

With a real AR you only charge before the first shot, thereafter when loading a new magazine you hit the bolt release - not the charging handle. That's very different (and much easier) than recharging every time.

I know how an AR works. You can still charge an AR after you empty a mag by cocking the charging handle for your information, you don't need to hit the bolt release.